middle eastern stuffed zucchini (kousa mahshi)

Ingredients For middle eastern stuffed zucchini (kousa mahshi)

• 3/4 lb

  good quality beef or lamb
• 3/4 c

  arborio rice, rinsed
• 1 c

  chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 c

  chopped onion
• 2-3

  cloves garlic, minced
• 1

  lemon juiced
• 1 Tbsp

  minced fresh parsley or 1 tbsp dried parsley
• 2 Tbsp

  minced fresh mint or 2 tsp dried mint
• 1 tsp

  cinnamon
• 1 tsp

  cumin
• 1/2 tsp

  ground allspice
• 1/4 tsp

  nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp

  ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp

  ground cardamom
• 3/4 tsp

  salt and pepper
• 12

  small to medium zucchini, about 6-8 inches long
• SAUCE
• 4 c

  low sodium broth (i use chicken)
• 1 15 oz

  can low salt tomato sauce
• 1 14.5 oz

  can low sodium crushed tomatoes, don't drain
• 2-5

  cloves garlic
• 1 Tbsp

  minces fresh mint or 2 tsp dried mint
• 1 tsp

  cumin
• 1

  lemon juiced
• salt to taste
• hot sauce to taste (optional)